Ruben Padilla (born January 5, 2001) is an American trampoline gymnast. He has won seven senior national titles across three disciplines (double-mini, trampoline, and syncrhonized trampoline) and two World Championships on double-mini and was named alternate to the 2024 Olympics for men's trampoline.

Ruben Padilla
Personal information
Born (2001-01-05) January 5, 2001 (age 23)
HometownOakley, California, U.S.
ResidenceBluffdale, Utah, U.S.
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Gymnastics career
DisciplineTrampoline gymnastics
Country represented United States
LevelSenior Elite
ClubWasatch Trampoline and Tumbling
Head coach(es)Sven Nielsen
Former coach(es)Yoshi Nakayama
Medal record
Men's trampoline gymnastics
Representing  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Sofia Double Mini
Gold medal – first place 2023 Birmingham Double Mini
Gold medal – first place 2023 Birmingham Double Mini Team
Gold medal – first place 2023 Birmingham All-around Team
Silver medal – second place 2018 Saint Petersburg Double Mini
Silver medal – second place 2019 Tokyo Double Mini
Silver medal – second place 2019 Tokyo Double Mini Team
Silver medal – second place 2019 Tokyo All-around Team
Silver medal – second place 2021 Baku All-around Team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Sofia All-around Team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Birmingham Synchro
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Baku Double Mini
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Sofia Double Mini Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2023 Santiago Synchro
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Lima Individual
Junior Pan American Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Cochabamba Individual

Career

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Padilla became as a senior national team member in 2018 and competed at his first world championships in St. Petersburg, Russia at the 2018 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships where he won a silver medal in the men's double-mini event.[1]

In 2019, he won a bronze medal in the men's individual event at the 2019 Pan American Games.[2] He then went on to complete a hat trick when he again won the men's double-mini silver medal alongside a silver double-mini team medal, and an all-around team silver medal at the 2019 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships.[3]

In 2021, he competed in the 2021 Pan American Gymnastics Championships in Brazil and won gold medals in the 17- to 21-year-old age group and the senior-level synchronized (with partner Cody Gesuelli) trampoline competitions and was a member of the first-place U.S. gymnastics team.[4]

He competed in the men's double-mini trampoline event at the 2022 World Games, and finished fourth. Then, at the 2022 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships, he won a gold medal in men's double-mini, a silver medal in the all-around team, and a bronze medal in the double-mini team event.[5]

Padilla defended his double-mini title at the 2023 Trampoline World Championships in Birmingham, England and once again won gold in individual men's double-mini, alongside a silver medal in synchronized trampoline with partner Aliaksei Shostak, and a double-mini team gold.[6][7][8]

In 2024, he won triple gold at the USAG championships held in Minneapolis, MN, winning men's individual trampoline, men's synchronized trampoline with partner Aliaksei Shostak, and the men's double-mini competition. Additionally, he was named as the alternate to the Olympic Games for men's trampoline.[9]

World Cup results

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World Cup
Year Place Medal Proof Ref
2024 Coimbra (Portugal)   Silver Synchronized [10]

Personal

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Padilla was born in Oakley, California; his parents are Nelia and Jerry Padilla. He started his gymnastics career at the age of 5 when his mother enrolled him in artistic gymnastics classes in a bid to stop him from jumping on the furniture at home.[4] Since 2017, he has trained at Wasatch Trampoline and Tumbling in Draper, UT, where he also works as a coach.[6]

He was named the 2020 Double -Mini Athlete of the Year by USA Gymnastics and was again honored with that award in 2024.[6][9]

References

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  1. ^ Rowbottom, Mike (November 9, 2018). "Historic Japanese win amid successful title defences at FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  2. ^ Gillen, Nancy (August 6, 2019). "Feeley finally tops rhythmic gymnastics podium after earlier disappointment at Lima 2019". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Morgan, Liam (November 30, 2019). "Japan sweep team synchronised events at Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Szymanski, Kyle (June 24, 2021). "Former Freedom High student Ruben Padilla stars in Senior Pan American Championships". thepress.net. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Houston, Michael (November 18, 2022). "Perfect China win women's team title at Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "PADILLA Ruben - FIG Athlete Profile". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  7. ^ "USA cleans up as most successful nation at 2023 Trampoline World Championships". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "At last! World titles for Briere-Vetillard, Malkin, Rodriguez — and a second gold for Padilla". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Steinke, Matt (June 27, 2024). "Stevens, Shostak earn Olympic berths; titles collected as USA Gymnastics Championships conclude · USA Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics Championships. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "FIG Trampoline World Cup - COIMBRA 2024". FIG Trampoline. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
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